Star profile

Pollux

Beta Geminorum · Gemini

Nearby star

3D likeness based on its real data · class K · ~4,200 K

What is Pollux

Pollux burns with a steady orange hue at 33.8 light-years away, in the constellation of Gemini. In Greek myth he was the immortal twin, son of Zeus and brother of the mortal Castor; the sky chose to set the two side by side so that neither would be left alone after the first of them died. Its warm glow, which crosses European winter skies almost a century after leaving the star, departed at a time when mechanical clocks were just beginning to order the quiet life of medieval cathedrals.

Where it is and when to see it

Pollux lies in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is one of the brightest stars in the sky: visible even from a city. Its best month of the year is January, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 67° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 77° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 28° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 62° S.

It is the brightest of the 74 stars of Gemini in our catalogue, which makes it the best starting point for finding your way around the constellation.

The light you see today left it about 34 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Pollux

Constellation: Gemini
Apparent magnitude: 1.16
Distance: 33.8 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 116.329° · Dec 28.026°
Catalogue: HIP 37826 · HD 62509

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Other stars in Gemini

Gemini has 74 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 74 stars in Gemini